Card pocket supporting means

ABSTRACT

Rotary card files have a spindle which carries transverse rings spaced along the same and serving as supports for a group of card-receiving pockets movable around the spindle. The invention comprises slotted connections between the inner portions of the pockets and the rings, with walls checking outward pulling influences to disconnect the pockets from the rings as the pockets are handled.

United States Patent 1 Shneider CARD POCKET SUPPORTING MEANS [76] Inventor: Aaron H. Shneider, 2835 N.

Western Ave., Chicago, 111. 60618 [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1974 211 App]. No.: 456,149

[52] U.S. CI 40/l04.l8; 402/501 X [51] Int. Cl. B42F 15/00 [58] Field of Search 402/501, 79, 16; 40/104.18, 104.17, 104.19, 68, 68.4, 68.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 658,510 9/1900 Russell .1 402/501 X 701,928 6/1902 Parkes 402/501 X 717,957 l/l903 Weaver 402/501 X 1,821,876 9/1931 Bonander 40/l04.l8

[ Aug. 19, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,187,509 3/1959 France ..402/79 406,140 8/1966 Switzerland 402/79 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerJohn H. Wolff [5 7] ABSTRACT Rotary card files have a spindle which carries transverse rings spaced along the same and serving as supports for a group of card-receiving pockets movable around the spindle. The invention comprises slotted connections between the inner portions of the pockets and the rings, with walls checking outward pulling influences to disconnect the pockets from the rings as the pockets are handled.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CARD POCKET SUPPORTING MEANS This invention relates to stands which carry a circular group of transparent pockets for record or picture cards, such stands being rotatable by means of a spindle to turn the card pockets for convenient selection or viewing. Some stands have the spindle in vertical position with a knob at the upper end, and are known as the carousel-type because the card group is turned in a horizontal course. Other stands have the spindle in horizontal position with a knob at each end by means of which the card pockets may be raised or lowered to a convenient viewing position; and these stands are known as the roto-type. The appliances just described are known in the stationery trade as rotary card files.

The present invention relates more particularly to the rings carried by the spindle of the stand and the manner in which the card pockets are applied to and removably supported by the same. A pair of rings are provided; and the card pockets are slotted at the inner edge to receive the rings and become slidable along the same. The slots usually made for this purpose are of the keytype, that is, with a round opening from which a narrow slot extends to the inner edge of the card pocket; and the ring is received through the slot to pass through the opening and form a sliding support for the card pocket.

The selection or successive viewing of record or picture cards contained in a card pocket of the above nature usually involves a finger-grip on the outer edge of each card pocket with an outward pull on the card pocket to slide or swing it along the rings. This imposes a strain on the divided portions of the key-slots. The repeated or frequent handling of card pockets in this manner eventually wears out the divided portions and causes the card pockets to come apart from the stand.

The above situation indicates that a card pocket is weakest in the region of its key-slots; and it is therefore one object of the present invention to depart from the conventional position and form of the key-slots in a manner to present a wall instead of an outlet where the pull of the card pocket against the ring occurs, whereby to reinforce the key-slot.

A further object is to locate the key-slots in the side edges of the card pockets, that is, the top and bottom edges of a carousel-type file or the side edges of a rototype file, and therefore remotely from the inner edge of the card pocket.

Another object is to cut the card pockets with keyslots which are very narrow where they start from the round openings and near one side of the latter, whereby to leave uninterrupted walls to resist ring pressure in the directions of the key-slot outlets.

A still further object is to provide a card pocket which is self-reinforcing in the zones of the rings without added attachments or materials.

An additional object is to locate the improved keyslots in a doubled return fold of the card pocket designed to strengthen the portion containing the keyslots.

A final object is to include the novel key-slot feature in a partition card where the same is contained in the card pocket, whereby to make the key-slotted region even stronger.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a carousel-type rotary file;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roto-type file;

FIG. 3 is'an elevation of a fragment of a conventional card pocket showing the location of one of its key-slots; FIG. 4 is an elevation of the improved card pocket as applied to the rings of a carousel-type rotary file;

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the upper key-slotted pocket portionshown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmental top view of the card pocket portion shown in FIG. 5, where it contains a partition card.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes the carousel-type card file, its vertical spindle 11 carrying and passing through a pair of rings 12; and the knob at the top of the spindle is shown at 13. A group of card pockets 14 is mounted for lateral sliding along the rings, such pockets being transparent to reveal record or picture cards deposited therein. A similar facility is shown in the roto-file illustration of FIG. 2, where the spindle 15 is horizontal and the card pockets are journaled accordingly. Card pockets for these files are usually cut with a pair of key-slots in the inner edge 14a, one such slot being shown in FIG. 3 near a step 14b of the card pocket.

To depart from the conventional direction of keyslots, FIG. 4 shows that the improved forms of key-slots are cut in the steps 14b of the card pocket instead of the inner edge 14a thereof. FIG. 5 shows more clearly that each key-slot 16 is wedge-shaped on entering the step 14b of the card pocket, and almost closed as it meets the opening 17 of the key-slot. Also, it is noted that the slot meets the opening near one side, so that a wall 17a rather than a split occurs toward the step 14b. The same figure also shows that the walls 14 of the card pocket are doubled with a return fold along the inner region of the card pocket. Four plies therefore occur in such region; and they are pressed with films of adhesive substance or fused together to make the stepped portion a solid part of the card pocket.

When the card pocket is to be mounted in a rotary file the carousel-type shown in FIG. 4, for example it is flexed as indicated by finely-dotted lines in the same figure to locate the entrances of the key-slots between the rings shown. The release of the card pocket aided by some manual pressure will cause the rings to be received in the key-slots and seat in the openings 17 thereof as shown. The card pocket now resumes its flat form, and may be slid or swung along the rings.

With the card pocket mounted as just described, its handling usually with a degree of outward pull will not be to force the ring against a divided and yieldable portion of the key-slot, as in the case of conventionally-slotted card pockets, but against an unyielding wall of the key-slot opening. Likewise, should the manual pull veer toward either card-pocket step 14b, the force will be resisted by the continuous walls 17d and the walls 17a of the key-slots. Finally, the openings of the latter are almost closed as seen in FIG. 4 to be virtually complete bearings and a resistance factor whichever way the card pocket is pulled or agitated. The key-slots are therefore not weak and yieldable at the starting point of the slots; and the wide entrance thereof and gradual lead-in make the card pocket fairly easy to mount on the rings. If, on the other hand, the card pocket finds strong resistance to draw if off the rings, it should not matter as the removal of a card pocket is usually for good.

Some card pockets receive a partition card between a pair of inserted record or picture cards. in such event, the partition card shown at 18 in the edge view of FIG. 6 may extend into the region of the fold 14:; to receive its slotted formation and serve as a reinforcement of the slotted card pocket portion. Also, it may be mentioned that such portion need not necessarily be stepped down as shown in FIG. 4, but may be even all the way across, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It will now be apparent that the improved card pocket has its key-slots cut in edges sidewise from its inner end in order to direct the key-slot outlets away from the regions of pulling strains. Therefore, solid bearings are provided endwise, and mostly uninterrupted ones sidewise, to resist ring pressure endwise and toward the sides; and the zone of the key-slots is at least of double thickness for further reinforcement. Further, the pockets formed as described may be applied with the same facility to upper and lower horizontal rods extending along a wall, or to upper and lower horizontal rings mounted around a post, vessel or column. Finally, the foregoing advantages are gained without adding any parts to the plain or partitioned card pocket or imposing any involvements in its fabrication.

I claim:

1. A pocket for records, cards or pictures comprising a sheet of transparent material folded over itself to form a first closed end of said pocket, the free edges of said sheet opposite to said first closed end being closed by a double return foldingto form a second closed end and reinforced region, said first and second closed ends being connected by a pair of opposed open ends at right angles thereto, said double return folded edges being fastened together to impart stiffness and strength to said second closed end and reinforced region, the opposed lateral portions of said region each having a portion thereof removed to form a rectangular step having an edge parallel to said adjacent open end, said region having a circular opening formed therein adjacent each parallel edge, each of said steps having a keyslot cut therein from said parallel edge into said circular opening adjacent thereto in a non-radial relationship to said opening, said key-slot being wedge-shaped with the base of the wedge on said parallel edge and the tip of the wedge being positioned at said non-radial juncture of said key-slot and said opening, so that the periphery of said opening continues substantially complete whereby the support elements co-act with portions of said opening periphery remote from said juncture.

2. The pocket according to claim 1 further comprising a partition card insertable in said pocket, said card having steps formed therein to match the steps in said pocket, circular openings in said card matching the openings in said pocket and key-slots in said card matching the key-slots in said pocket. 

1. A pocket for records, cards or pictures comprising a sheet of transparent material folded over itself to form a first closed end of said pocket, the free edges of said sheet opposite to said first closed end being closed by a double return folding to form a second closed end and reinforced region, said first and second closed ends being connected by a pair of opposed open ends at right angles thereto, said double return folded edges being fastened together to impart stiffness and strength to said second closed end and reinforced region, the opposed lateral portions of said region each having a portion thereof removed to form a rectangular step having an edge parallel to said adjacent open end, said region having a circular opening formed therein adjacent each parallel edge, each of said steps having a key-slot cut therein from said parallel edge into said circular opening adjacent thereto in a non-radial relationship to said opening, said key-slot being wedge-shaped with the base of the wedge on said parallel edge and the tip of the wedge being positioned at said non-radial juncture of said key-slot and said opening, so that the periphery of said opening continues substantially complete whereby the support elements co-act with portions of said opening periphery remote from said juncture.
 2. The pocket according to claim 1 further comprising a partition card insertable in said pocket, said card having steps formed therein to match the steps in said pocket, circular openings in said card matching the openings in said pocket and key-slots in said card matching the key-slots in said pocket. 